What you need to know
- Google will let any Android user try out Stadia with a new experiment.
- It's also expanding Stadia support to OnePlus phones from the 5 and above.
- Rounding out this month's update, you'll now be able to use your phone as a controller with mobile touch controls for Stadia.
Don't have a Pixel or a Samsung? That's fine. Google will now let anyone with an Android device use the Stadia service, whether it's officially supported or not. The company made the announcement today on the Stadia Community blog. You'll need to download the Stadia app, head to the Experiments tab, and choose "Play on this device", but it should be smooth sailing after that. Google had long since limited Stadia to only Pixels and select other devices. As Stadia begins to reach more and more devices it's now going to be easy for those who want to test out Google's fledgling gaming service without investing in select phones.
That said, Google is broadening official access to Stadia. From today, users of any OnePlus device from the OnePlus 5 to the 8 Pro will be fully supported by Stadia. This joins pre-existing phones like all Pixels, Samsung's modern flagships, and Asus' gaming phones among others.
Google is also bringing mobile touch controls, enabling you to use your phone as a controller, as well as per-device resolution settings.
Google's Stadia is getting better by the month, but it's still not alluring enough to pull gamers over en masse. Slow and steady progress means it'll soon have a solid foundation, but without a committed and engaged userbase, it's not clear how long it'll last.
Google Stadia review, three months later: Nothing ventured, nothing changed
